Based on other threads tossing out Spring 2021 events, I decided I should get a head start on the discussion of dates for this.
Dave has indicated April 14 -17 are out for him. Tiffany Holt mentioned a CMU event potentially in there as well (nothing mentioned on the CMU website yet).
As such, I thought I would toss out a few potential dates for discussion:
March 22 - 26
March 29 - April 2
April 26 - 30
I am also open to other dates as well. I just picked those to begin the discussion as they allow some break time around the dates Dave indicated for the Recon event.
I don't check this forum weekly/monthly, but will do my best to check in for this drive...
Lone Star Mini: I will send you a PM to get your direct email and keep you updated that way if you would like.
You can also set a "notify" option on the thread to receive emails from the forum on any given thread you want to monitor.
Quote from: MPlayle on September 25, 2020, 02:19:22 PM
Based on other threads tossing out Spring 2021 events, I decided I should get a head start on the discussion of dates for this.
Dave has indicated April 14 -17 are out for him. Tiffany Holt mentioned a CMU event potentially in there as well (nothing mentioned on the CMU website yet).
As such, I thought I would toss out a few potential dates for discussion:
March 22 - 26
March 29 - April 2
April 26 - 30
I am also open to other dates as well. I just picked those to begin the discussion as they allow some break time around the dates Dave indicated for the Recon event.
I doubt if it will appear on the CMU website Michael as it is not an actual CMU event and as of now there are no plans for a CMU event in 2021
.
It is just a low keyed get together with a few drives that are being put together by a couple of CMU members that live in the Ashville NC area from April 13th through April 18th.
I have no idea what I'll be doing in the spring as I'm having my knee replaced in early January.
Best I can say right now is "maybe"..... 8.gif
Well Dave, with a 6 - 8 week recovery that would make the late March or April dates possible?
Right now I just want to get some feedback about possible dates to keep an eye on and avoid serious conflicts.
If someone wants "Spring Break" type dates, let me know what those are. We can either include or exclude them.
Initially, I was trying to avoid Easter and the NC dates indicated by Dave.
There's a slight chance that I might find myself paling around with a couple of long time Mini friends in Austin sometime this Spring. If that comes to fruition, and depending on the timing, we may want to join you for this event. Not being all that familiar with Texas geography, how far from Austin will this Hill Country Gathering be held?
Scargo,
Austin to Kerrville is roughly 100 miles (about 2 hours) depending on route and traffic.
Edit: We would be thrilled to have you join if possible.
And if you have Mini friends in Austin, bring them along!
TX Dashpots? How on earth does one post a comment or video on the TX Mini Dashpot site? I have tried posting the Mini departure video from Sunday, but I seriously am unable to locate where the heck the video goes. FB tells me it uploads and the video is ready, but where the heck? Then I noticed that all the post entries are directly from 'TX Mini Dashpots' so I'm thinking that only the admin can post something yet anyone can respond to the post only.. am I missing something? I wanted to post a 30 second clip of the mini caravan, but.. ???
Did you upload it to YouTube first?
I find most sites won't load a video straight - I upload everything to You Tube then just post the link.
Try it here first? On this site Dan had put in a YouTube button, click that, insert your link and it will open a player and play it.
Please do post it here as well. I am not on FB, so would not be able to see it.
FYI: I led another drive for the local folks on Sunday (Dec 20) and Randy was along. He had his girls video the start of the drive. We had 9 Minis and 1 non-Mini "tag along" with Craig and Randy. I think I may finally have some of the Dahspots "hooked" on getting their Minis out for drives.
Hey Now.. @Dave, yes the video loaded, but went to a page off the main page. Although I've created a short (3:37) Youtube video here. I will be sure to get better footage and capture all the minis on the next mini run.. @Michael.. thanks again for setting up the run. It was totally better than I expected....
Great video! Glad you were able to make here for the run!
With over half, that's probably the highest percentage of RHD cars participating in a Mini run, this side of the pond.
Quote from: BruceK on December 23, 2020, 02:38:40 PM
Great video! Glad you were able to make here for the run!
However short, it was good to see you again Bruce! Now that I know more what the mini runs are like, I certainly hope to join more. Although I would most likely have to trailer a mini down.
Bringing the thread back on topic ...
Time to focus in on dates for the Spring Drive week. The dates I had originally proposed were:
March 22 - 26
March 29 - April 2
April 26 - 30
Thoughts, opinions, alternatives?
We need to sort of settle the dates before I can truly investigate motels and rates.
Any of those dates can work for me.
Time to bring this back up for people to notice. I would like some further input on what dates work best for folks before making an "executive decision" soon.
The date options proposed are:
March 22 - 26
March 29 - April 2
April 26 - 30
Thoughts, opinions, alternatives?
(Personally, I am leaning more towards one of the last two so Dave has more healing time on his knee.)
I'm in for any dates. But as you noted later dates are better.
I'll need to know by February 10th for March schedule bidding.
Any of those dates are good for me.
I don't think you should plan on me attending, I might make it but I don't want to commit till much closer to the date and I see how I'm doing, how the stupid virus thing is going, and whether I have a running, drivable car by then.
Sorry I can't be more committal
Late April is best one for me....
John Styers thinks he can make the late April dates
Thanks guys & gals! That is the kind of feedback I was wanting.
I will target the drive "event" for the April 26 - 30 week.
I will begin looking into motel options shortly and report back on what I might get arranged.
Thanks for your work on this Michael.
Styers says he's coming.
An update for folks.
I did some checking on hotels that have good potential trailer parking and the Best Western Sunday House Inn seems to fit that the best. (It actually shares its "overflow/oversize" lot with the Holiday Inn Express basically next door.)
The best rates seem to be by booking online rather than directly with the hotel. Here is a Google Maps link for the hotel: Best Western link (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Best+Western+Sunday+House+Inn/@30.0690118,-99.1149251,18.61z/data=!4m18!1m7!3m6!1s0x86597161d333dbff:0xb7837af6efd44c27!2sKerrville,+TX+78028!3b1!8m2!3d30.0474332!4d-99.1403189!3m9!1s0x865be376d39bea89:0x95b3984e7acf4828!5m4!1s2021-04-26!2i4!4m1!1i1!8m2!3d30.0689637!4d-99.1142394)
Dates will be April 26 through April 30.
Unless I get sent home early I'm working those days unfortunately. I got a 2 month schedule this last bid award.
Quote from: 94touring on March 02, 2021, 11:49:11 AM
Unless I get sent home early I'm working those days unfortunately. I got a 2 month schedule this last bid award.
You'll be missed. I tried to post the date selection back at the end of January in hopes of working with your scheduling. I slipped up on getting hotel info out quicker.
I usually bid 1 month out at a time but had a 2 month bid that I was awarded for specific days I need in March for something.
Just to be sure I got this right. Arrive Monday April 26, drives on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Leave on Friday. So 4 nights at the hotel? Sounds like fun again. I will be ready.
I expect to see a video of the orange car buzzing around the neighborhood any time now! 77.gif
Quote from: Willie_B on March 02, 2021, 01:26:20 PM
Just to be sure I got this right. Arrive Monday April 26, drives on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Leave on Friday. So 4 nights at the hotel? Sounds like fun again. I will be ready.
That is pretty much correct. I do have shorter drives for Monday and Friday planned as "optional".
I have my reservations in already for 4 nights - arrive Monday, leave Friday. I am planning to arrive early Monday for any "early-birds" that want a short drive that day. I am also planning to return to San Antonio on Friday after that day's "optional" drive.
Unless Santa's elves show up and put my car together I'm unfortunately going to miss this. So much going on the poor car has been on the way back burner.
Quote from: gr8kornholio on March 02, 2021, 07:15:24 PM
Unless Santa's elves show up and put my car together I'm unfortunately going to miss this. So much going on the poor car has been on the way back burner.
I was thinking about sending you a message this week asking how it's coming along.
Just made my reservations for 4 nights. I signed up for their rewards program, should get 4 $25 hotel gift cards for the stay. If I take a slightly different route than last time it's only 1095 miles form home. The other way is 1071 miles. I just want see some different trees.
So, you took 20 all the way last time, and this time you'll go south on 85 to 10 and across? That takes you thru some major cities along the way if that's what you're thinking.....tho that has to be way more scenic since you'll be cruising close to the ocean for a lot of it.
1000 miles is a long way in one shot, so where will you stop?
If that's the route, it's not much more scenic. At least not the interstate. Still a tunnel of pine trees for the majority.
Last time I went 85 down and 10 across, both ways. This time it will be 20 into Mississippi then down on 59 or 55 to 10. My plan is to get to Lafayette the first night, 600 miles or so. I will be using my RV so I have my overnights covered. Cracker Barrel has longer RV spaces in back and let folks stay the night in their lot, there is one in Lafayette. Another plus to the southern route is that it will be the middle of crawfish season so I foresee stopping for some along the way.
Early this next week I will be putting in a reservation for dinner at the Cowboy Steakhouse for the group at the end of the Wednesday drive.
Can I get a guesstimate head count to give them as a start?
Edit:
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the list of possible attendees so far is:
Steyers
Brad (Willie_B)
Bruce Kennedy
Michael Playle
I will be attending Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately I do not have enough PTO from my job to take the week off.
My plan is drive over from NE San Antonio on Tuesday evening.
Now I just need to get the mini running right!
Yes. Count me in. Thanks Michael.
Quote from: Brit_in_TX on March 15, 2021, 11:29:43 AM
Now I just need to get the mini running right!
Come even if you don't have a mini to bring. I have been known to share my mini driving. Which I need to get back on the road also.
Quote from: Willie_B on March 15, 2021, 05:53:14 PM
Quote from: Brit_in_TX on March 15, 2021, 11:29:43 AM
Now I just need to get the mini running right!
Come even if you don't have a mini to bring. I have been known to share my mini driving. Which I need to get back on the road also.
Honestly it is the motivation I need to sort it out!
Just a quick reminder: The drive event is still a "go".
I will be arriving early Monday to be available to lead an optional shorter drive to lunch in Fredricksburg for the early folks (if any). Monday afternoon is intended as the "meet & greet" as folks arrive.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the main drives with dinner at the Cowboy Steakhouse on Wednesday evening.
I will also be available to lead another optional shorter drive Friday for anyone deciding to leave later Friday or Saturday.
Weather is looking to be real good when we are there.
I'm excited! I changed the oil in my Mini yesterday in preparation for the event. Still got to raise the front suspension - which has settled a bit - to lessen the tires rubbing on the body.
It will drive better too....especially over those damn cattle grates- I will def be slowing down for those this year! :-\
Quote from: MiniDave on April 15, 2021, 11:27:09 AM
It will drive better too....especially over those damn cattle grates- I will def be slowing down for those this year!
I will definitely be keeping in mind how we go over the cattle grates as well.
In honor of Brad's visit to Texas for this event, I convinced a local eatery to rename itself.
Lunch is on Brad!!!! ;D
That's quite nice of you Bruce. 4.gif
I plan to arrive late Monday, drive Tuesday and Wednesday, maybe Thursday morning, but then head out Thursday late afternoon.
John Styers...(not Steyers)
That's pretty much my schedule too, see you there!
(sorry about the mis-spelling - you'd think I'd know it by now!) ::)
The weather is looking really good for the event. 4.gif
I plan to arrive early Tuesday morning. And I'll probably head for home sometime Friday morning.
As nominal "drive leader", I will be arriving early Monday morning to be present for anyone wanting to do the "optional" Monday drive. Monday afternoon is intended as "meet & greet".
I will be leaving Friday. If there is anyone partaking in the "optional" Friday drive, I will lead it then head home. Otherwise, I will leave Friday morning.
I would like to do the Friday morning drive and then head home after lunch.
Quote from: Brit_in_TX on April 22, 2021, 01:02:29 PM
I would like to do the Friday morning drive and then head home after lunch.
That is the planned structure of the Friday drive. The departure time for that drive is targeted as 10:00 am from the hotel in Kerrville. I will do a brief "driver's meeting" to outline the route shortly before departure.
we will arrive late Tuesday no mini just lined up with our vacation and search for relocation hill country is on the list. We will miss the meet and greet on Monday but would like to meet up with you guys.
We will either be staying at an rv park near the motel or at the motel and just parking the truck and camper in the oversized area for a night or two then onto check out more hill country. Might even follow along (not that my 3/4 ton can keep up with mini handling) or ride along if someone doesn't mind on a drive.
Excellent! See you Tuesday!
A bit under 700 miles. Dinner at Cracker Barrel then staying night in their parking lot. They have RV spaces in back.
Whew! You're a road warrior...700 miles in a day is a LOT! 77.gif
I'm in Dallas, heading out around noonish tomorrow.
Had not planned to go this far. Got to my planned stop over at 3:30. Still felt good and too early to stop so just kept going. Had my home support unit, wife, look up where the next Cracker Barrel is and if they had RV parking. Going to meet Bill, the guy buying the stock wheels, for BBQ for lunch in Seguin tomorrow. So about 400 miles to go.
I will see you guys in Kerrville. I will be driving out in my Mini from San Antonio early tomorrow morning in case there are any "early birds" wanting a "lunch" drive.
I plan to leave Dallas just after lunch, so see you all around dinner time.
Drive safe!
Hey Willie_B. How do find flat towing with the overhang on your RV? I flat towed my Traveller behind a RoadTrek RV to the 09 EMWMM and didn't like it at all. The trailer hitch swings out in corners and negates the turning motion. It was fine when I flat towed behind a Ford Windstar with little rear overhang.
It tows directly behind the van. Habit has me go wide like with a trailer but that's not needed.
The "Tuesday Bunch" at the stop at Enchanted Rock state park. Bruce, Brad, and I drove. Dave rode with Bruce. The last picture is hikers up on top of Enchanted Rock.
Last night after hitting about 10,000 cattle grates on the drive ( :D ) we walked about 100 ft down the hotel parking lot to the Italian restaurant and had a great meal.....then hung out waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive. Jeff10049 and BritinTx both got here late last night and will join us this morning for the runs on the twisted sisters.
We will probably have some rain this morning - we had a few sprinkles yesterday but nothing major.....
I know those guys! Well, at least 3 of them personally, but all 4 really! Wish I was there with you but hopefully in the hospital for my last visit! Finally declared Cancer Free and they re-connected my plumbing, so I'm feeling blessed just to be alive! Now I've gotta get a Mini on the road again...or a Moke...or BOTH!
Quote from: drmini on April 28, 2021, 11:43:06 AM
I know those guys! Well, at least 3 of them personally, but all 4 really! Wish I was there with you but hopefully in the hospital for my last visit! Finally declared Cancer Free and they re-connected my plumbing, so I'm feeling blessed just to be alive! Now I've gotta get a Mini on the road again...or a Moke...or BOTH!
Fantastic news Hugh! 4.gif Happy to hear that good news.
Some pictures from today's run. The first picture is the cars at the hotel parking lot before heading out for breakfast at Mary's Tacos. We left for the drive from the taco place.
The next picture is at a "leg stretch" stop. The other four are at the Texas Stonehenge-II.
Need to get a pic of Dave's MINI followed by all the Minis. Like mother duck and her ducklings.
Dave's been riding shotgun in the classic Minis - not driving his Clubman.
I spotted a Google Street View car today, with its camera taken down and covered up. I spoke with the driver. He said because it was raining and drizzling they don't take any Street View photos so he was just waiting for the wet weather to pass. The driver said the camera mast goes up about 9 feet and the camera does not like wet weather. He also told me it takes couple of months before the new images he takes show up online on Google maps. He ships off solid-state hard drives of the photo data the camera takes. In that time they apply the software that blurs faces and license plates.
OK, so today I made it thru the rainstorms and got to my hotel in Decatur, about 10 miles from the racetrack. I also found the two guys I'll be hanging with tomorrow and we had dinner.
Tomorrow I'll head up to the track and watch him run, and depending on how his day goes I might stay the rest of the day, then head to KC Sat am. early.
Hope everyone had fun today and didn't have to deal with the rain I did on my drive!
We did not have outright rain, but lots of the mist/drizzle for the first half of the drive. Dry but cloudy for the second half.
The consensus became to cancel the Friday drive as more rain is forecast for Friday. Bruce and Craig headed home this afternoon. Brad and I will head home tomorrow (Friday) morning. Jeff and Natalie will head out either tomorrow or Saturday.
Thanks you to everyone for showing up. I enjoyed leading the drives, just wished the weather had been more cooperative.
What a sweet retirement gig.
Drive around in someone else's car all over hells half acre, spending other people's money on gas, food and lodging. And when it rains you get the day off.
Where do I sign up?
Michael, thank you for organizing. I had a great time meeting everyone and actually driving my mini.
Jeff and Natalie, sorry I did not get to see before I went. It was great to meet you both.
Yes, thank you Michael. Had a fun time meeting up again and driving some fun roads.
About half way home. Between weather and traffic I didn't get as far as I hoped today.
It was great to meet Brad, Bruce, Craig, and Michael. Also great to see Dave again.
Had a lot of fun riding along and seeing some hill country Natalie thought it was great as well.
Thanks for taking us along.
We found by accident a cool little lunch stop for future hill country drives I think this was near your Monday drive to enchanted rock as I saw signs just down the road from this place for enchanted rock.
It's called Altstadt Brewery down the road from Fredricksburg they have food plenty of bathrooms and a way cool tractor museum with some steam-powered stuff it's small so a 5-minute look is all it takes but very nice place with good prices for lunch items.
Sounds like you guys had a great time a shame it was cut short with the weather.
Its always good to get out and drive your Mini.
Here's a photo of some of the group parked outside the Stonehenge replica.
Not sure why there was a big statue of John Kerry there...
;D
First time ever stopping at a Buc-ees. Wow, don't stop if your in a hurry. Can't say I would become a regular though.
Quote from: Willie_B on May 01, 2021, 12:04:39 PM
First time ever stopping at a Buc-ees. Wow, don't stop if your in a hurry. Can't say I would become a regular though.
They have just a few gas pumps to choose from. I took this video to show my granddaughters who didn't believe me that Texas had some gas stations with 100 gas pumps.
Made it home no problems. Did not see my mirror anywhere though.
That's great Brad. All in all, a missing mirror isn't that bad.
I made it home yesterday afternoon.....thanks to everyone who came, it was great to see everyone and meet new peeps!
On my trip home first I went to the Eagles Canyon Raceway outside Decatur to meet up with Dave and his Sprite - who's engine I had built. What a fantastic track this is.....it's still being upgraded by the new owners but they've done a terrific job already and you can see how good it will be when they're done. The track layout is wonderful, with lots of elevation changes, a couple of off camber turns and plenty of straights.
We had a bit of a rough start on Friday, the car ran fine but was leaking oil - we ran the first two test and tune sessions in the morning, then went to change oil, retorque the head and reset the valves - and that's when inexperience raised it's head - not to mention weather problems - as it started to rain. Dave had forgotten his torque wrench, and he also forgot to bring a new oil filter.
We got all these issues and more settled eventually, and a run into the closest parts store got him a couple of filters - he's learning....
The oil issue turned out to be simple - he was overfilling the pan!
I didn't stay for Saturday's run, and the weather guessers said it would rain all day so we weren't hopeful. However, Dave called me around noon and said it didn't rain a bit and he ran both morning sessions with no incident - the car ran flawlessly and no oil leaks as he had corrected the level when he changed to race oil. He'll run again today and then he'll have two more full weekends to get his license.
He's thinking he might upgrade the safety equipment on his Lotus at some point and start running it instead of the Sprite, but for now he's having a great time!
After a weeks absence the boys were happy to see me, for sure! Too bad I missed their birthday, but I doubt they noticed..... ;D
Sounds like everyone had a good time. Would like to have made it but had other committments.
Dave, My son ran Eagles Canyon several times. He didn't like it because it was so rough and needed re-surfacing. I believe ir was for sale last ttime I went there 10 years or so ago. Sounds like its being improved. One of the shops up the hill had a dynamometer service.
What I heard was that it was under new ownership, and the new guys had money and were investing heavily in upgrading the facility. It's been completely resurfaced and a new section added, also a number of new garages and other facilities have been added, and some terrific bleachers so you can watch, that had some very comfortable Adirondack style chairs instead of the usual bench style bleacher seats. Construction was ongoing while we were there....
Talked with my son today. He said yeah new owner doing a lot of work on it. He said i was hard on brakes needing hard braking in several places. He had a membership which was basically pay when you used it. Now it's about $250 per month so the membership is paying for it? Sounds like a big improvement.
Jalopnik has just published an article and video featuring many of the roads we drove during our recent Hill Country event.
https://jalopnik.com/you-are-now-a-dodge-charger-srt-hellcat-speeding-down-t-1846919503